South Orange Maplewood Education Association

Archives for December 2021

Thank you!! Happy Holidays!!

Thank you!!!!

Happy Holidays, SOMEA!

Dear SOMEA members,

South Orange-Maplewood Education Association

Warmest thoughts and best wishes for a wonderful holiday and a happy New Year. May peace, love, health and prosperity follow you always.

I would personally like to thank you for making my wish for the 2021 year come true. SOMEA members have empowered themselves!!

Rocio Lopez December 2020

The South Orange and Maplewood Association

SOMEA is the inclusive union that represents more than 750 South Orange-Maplewood Public School employees, including transportation & maintenance personnel, secretaries, IT specialists, athletic trainers, child study teams, social workers, counselors, librarians, nurses, and teachers.
Attachments area

This is how we fight for fairness, for our families, and for a better SOMSD!

Rocio Lopez, SOMEA President, someapresident@gmail.com

In Unity,

Executive Board
Rocio Lopez, President
Shira Lincoln, Vice President
Phil McCormick, Secretary
Laurie Pham, Treasurer
 
David Mastrodonato, Action Committee Chair
Michelle Rhodes-Soriano, Member Communications

Press Release!

Press Release!

Now is the time, SOMEA!

Dear SOMEA members,

We just want to share with you the Press Release SOMEA just sent:

South Orange-Maplewood Education Association
For Immediate Release

On Monday, December 20, 2021, the South Orange-Maplewood Education Association (SOMEA) will conduct a march and rally in order to express its discontent with the state of contract negotiations with the South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education. Currently, the two parties are at impasse. At the last negotiations session on October 7th of this year, the Board of Education offered a percentage for salary guide increases far below the Essex County average of 3.3%. SOMEA is disheartened and insulted and regards the Board of Education’s offer as an unjustified show of disrespect. SOMEA teachers and staff deserve salaries that are comparable to other Essex County districts. We urge the Board of Education to return to the table and bargain in good faith.

SOMEA members will gather at two points, South Orange Middle School in South Orange and Maplewood Middle School in Maplewood, and each group will march through the two towns at 6:15 PM to the Board of Education office at 525 Academy Street in Maplewood. There, the members will rally and attend the Board of Education’s monthly meeting beginning at 7:30 PM.

During the public speaking portion of the meeting, SOMEA members and community members plan to speak about the state of the district as they see it, and about the role a fair contract can play in maintaining a healthy district, one that would attract top job candidates and encourage veteran teacher retention. Additionally, members will speak about their struggles with the long-inadequate salary guide and with the often-deteriorating conditions on the job.

The South Orange and Maplewood Association

SOMEA is the inclusive union that represents more than 750 South Orange-Maplewood Public School employees, including transportation & maintenance personnel, secretaries, IT specialists, athletic trainers, child study teams, social workers, counselors, librarians, nurses, and teachers.
Attachments area

For more information please contact:

David Mastrodonato, SOMEA Action Chair, mastro431@yahoo.com

Rocio Lopez, SOMEA President, someapresident@gmail.com

This is how we fight–for fairness, for our families, and for a better SOMSD!

In Unity,

Executive Board
Rocio Lopez, President
Shira Lincoln, Vice President
Phil McCormick, Secretary
Laurie Pham, Treasurer
 
David Mastrodonato, Action Committee Chair
Michelle Rhodes-Soriano, Member Communications

Reminder-A Call to Action (BoE mtg 12/20)

A Call To Action!

Now is the time, SOMEA!

Dear SOMEA members,
 
Our Negotiations Team has a date for mediation with the Board on January 6th! 
 
That means: we have to have a huge showing at the Board meeting on Monday, December 20th!
 
We will gather together at Maplewood Middle School and at South Orange Middle School and march through the towns to the Board office. Let’s be a sea of green in our green SOMEA shirts!
 
We will carry signs, pass out leaflets, and, most importantly, MAKE SOME NOISE! We will be heard!
 
Bring pots and wooden spoons, bring your voices, bring your indignation! Enough!
 
Date and gather time: December 20th, 6:15 pm at MMS or SOMS (Maplewood/South Orange, depending on where your school is!)
 
We have momentum, SOMEA! Word is getting out about how our salary guide falters behind most other Essex County districts. Word is getting out about the ongoing disrespect shown to us, the teachers and staff of this district, by the Board of Education and central office. 
We can win, but we must work together!
 
 
This is how we fight–for fairness, for our families, and for a better SOMSD!

In Unity,

Executive Board
Rocio Lopez, President
Shira Lincoln, Vice President
Phil McCormick, Secretary
Laurie Pham, Treasurer
 
David Mastrodonato, Action Committee Chair
Michelle Rhodes-Soriano, Member Communications

Women in Education Award!

Congratulations  to SOMEA President Rocio López for her new Women in Education Award!